Windmill-brake



(NmModeL) L. H. SPARKS.

WINDM'ILL BRAKE.

No. 245,322 Patented Aug. 9, 881.

WITNESSES l d. By M Jam-Ha s N. PETERfi-Pholol-Rhugnpher, Washin ton. D. c.

UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFIC LORENZO H. SPARKS, OF GREENSBURG, OHIO.

WlNDMlLL-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,322, dated. August 9, 1881,

Application filed May 21, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LORENZO H. SPARKS, of Greensburg, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented. certain new and usefulImprovementsinWindmill-Brakes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view of my improved brake attached .to a windmill. Fig. 2 is a view of the brake and brake-lever detached. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, showing the device in position; and Fig. at is a vertical sectional view through the brake-shoe and the crank-wheel of the mill.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like letters of reference.

This invention relates to a device for braking the wheels of wind-engines when out of gear, so as to avoid unnecessary wear, which said device shall also be operated automatically by the vane of the mill when exposed to a gale; and it consists in the improved construction and arrangement of said device, as will be hereinafter fully described, and par ticularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A represents the shaft of an ordinary wind-wheel, and B the rotary or revolving frame, having the bearing 0, in which said shaft is mounted, as shown. The rear end of shaft A carries the disk 1), provided with a wrist-pin or crank, E, upon which is pivoted the pitman F, by which motion is communicated to the pump or machinery to be operated.

G is an arm extending laterally from the (No model.)

frame B, and having pivoted to it a horizontal '40 lever, H, carrying a suitably-constructed brakeshoe, I, adapted to bear against the edge of the crank-disk 1). The outer or free end of lever H is connected by a cord or rope, J, with the vane K, which is hinged or pivoted, in the usual manner, upon a vertical rod, L, attached to the revolving frame B. Attached to the opposite side of the said vane is a cord, M, which is passed over suitably-arranged pulleys, N, and down through the tower of the mill to within a convenient distance from the ground.

When the vane is turned for the purpose of throwing the mill out of gear by the cord M the brake is pressed upon the edge of disk D, thus preventing the wheel from rotating, as it would otherwise do to the detriment of the machinery. WVhen the mill is exposed to a gale and the vane is similarly turned the revolution of the wheel is checked, so as to prevent injury to the mill.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States In a windmill, the combination of the revolving frame B, shaft A, having crank-disk D, lever H, having brake-shoe I, hinged vane K, and ropes or cords J M, all combined and operating substantially as herein described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LORENZO H. SPARKS.

Witnesses:

MIRIAM BRADEN, JAMES BRADEN. 

